MoUs Current Affairs - 2019

India and Israel have signed 7 agreements on areas including space, tech and agriculture during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Israel. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Israel. Also, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit marks the 25 years of establishment of diplomatic relationship between India and Israel.

In the joint statement released after talks between India and Israel, both the countries have called for taking strong measures against terror organisations and also against those who encouraged, supported and financed terrorism.

MoUs

India-Israel Development Cooperation- 3-year work program in Agriculture (2018-2020)

Plan of cooperation regarding cooperation in atomic clocks

MoU regarding cooperation in GEO-LEO optical link.

MoU regarding cooperation in electric propulsion for small satellites.

India-Israel

The diplomatic relationship between India and Israel was established in 1992. India is Israel’s topmost destination for arms export. India is already buying an average of $1 billion per year in military equipment. For India, Israel is the third largest source of arms after the US and Russia with a share of 7.2% between 2012 and 2016.

The earliest India-Israel defence collaboration took place during the 1962 Sino-Indian war when Israel provided military aid to India. Israel also helped India during its two wars with Pakistan in 1965 and 1971. India reciprocated by helping Israel during the six-day war in 1967 by supplying spare parts for French-made Mystere and Ouragan aircraft as well as AX-13 tanks.

In April 2017, India and Israel had signed a $2 billion deal for an advanced medium-range surface-to-air missile system which will be helpful for the Indian army to shoot down aircraft, missiles and drones etc.
Israel is India’s 38th-largest trading partner with the trade balance standing in India’s favour in 2016-17.

BSNL has inked agreements with Facebook and MobiKwik in order to popularize the internet and its value added services among its customers. Further, BSNL has also signed a third MoU with Disney Land India to offer premium online gaming services to its mobile customers. The series of MoUs signed by BSNL comes at the backdrop of a stiff competition faced by BSNL from private telecom companies like Airtel and Reliance Jio.

Agreement with Facebook

As per the terms of agreement signed with Facebook, BSNL will facilitate connectivity for Facebook’s `Express Wi-Fi Program’. Express Wi-Fi service program of the Facebook has been launched commercially in India and the service is now available via 700 hotspots across four states of Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Meghalaya. Express Wi-Fi is a part of Facebook’s global initiative to expand internet connectivity. Express Wi-Fi” services will complement mobile data offerings by providing a low-cost, high bandwidth service allowing users to get online for accessing apps, downloading contents amongst other things at affordable rates.

Agreement with MobiKwik

As per the MoU signed with the digital payments firm Mobikwik, BSNL and MobiKwik will work together to create a BSNL mobile wallet to facilitate payment for its products and services. The wallet will be made available exclusively to the customers of BSNL. In addition, MobiKwik will also facilitate digital sale of BSNL SIM cards through its app and website.